While in the Basics classes, people are learning basic movements and positions as well as much of the terminology. In the advanced classes, we go beyond. In the Basic classes, everyone is mostly just following and copying what they see.

In the advanced tai chi learning path, people start to understand why these basic concepts exist and how to leverage these concepts to be able to move fluently. They’re learning more complex series of movements which challenge their balance and ability to be centred or grounded even when the movements and postures become more intricate and complicated.

As we touched upon in the last blog, the next step in the learning path after the Basics class is choosing either a Yang Style or a Chen Style tai chi forms class.

Tai Chi Forms (or Taolu)

A Tai Chi form is a series of moves that are executed continuously from one move to the next, similar to a choreographed dance routine. A traditional tai chi form will take somewhere between 20 to 30 minutes to complete. At the beginning, you have to learn and remember the sequence of moves in the routine called a form.

Whether you’re good at memorizing or not, there’s more to being able to execute a form than just knowing the order of the movements. Being good at a form whether it’s the Yang Style or Chen Style form, it’s all in the little details of knowing how to shift your centre or dantian. And, at the same time, maintain optimal balance and postural strength with each upcoming movement or stance.

While you are achieving a certain amount of fluency with the moves, learning to apply tai chi concepts begins and continues to deepen with time. Using the choreography of the form, people learn to incorporate tai chi concepts into the movements, starting with the basic concepts then progressively layering on more difficult and complex tai chi principles into the movements. It may take 3 seasons to learn the basic movements of the form but a lifetime to learn and master tai chi concepts and principles.

A form is much like a dance. We can all learn how to achieve a level of competency so we can enjoy the basic form. To master a tai chi form takes years of practice to unleash and have our bodies understand both the art and science of fluid yet powerful movement concepts. The consistent long term practice makes it easier for us to remember movements while staying active and physically fit. And, some people enjoy perfecting a single form as a way of learning and achieving this understanding.

Some people like to explore the different styles of tai chi and understand the unique characteristics of each style, hence learning multiple tai chi forms. There is no rule or set path to learning tai chi. Learn from various forms as well as other advanced classes to continue understanding how to apply the concepts. Follow your heart and take the path that feels right.

Depending on people’s personalities and personal preferences, some like to mix it up to add variety and different challenges which teach us the same concepts from a different perspective.

Push Hands (or Tuishou)

Push Hands is a sparring activity meant to teach us how tai chi principles are applied. Instead of learning a series of movements in a choreographed set, we learn to respond and react to an outside force or a partner. It is a practical application of tai chi skills taught in various forms practice and applying these skills and concepts to interactive live situations where your partner is constantly moving and shifting.

It is about learning to sense the outside forces and becoming aware of other people’s movements. In turn, we learn to become much more aware of our own movements. We’re challenging the practical application of movements we learned in tai chi forms. And, we’re learning new movements as a way to respond to forces applied on us from our classroom partners without losing our own centre of balance.

Most people do not learn tai chi for the purpose of martial arts, therefore learning push hands is not always the first thing that comes to mind. However, it can be an important aspect of the learning path and this class is another part of the path to understanding many of the tai chi principles. Without actual physical contact with another person, it may often be difficult to appreciate some of the nuances of tai chi concepts.

Push hands is a direct path to learning tai chi principles as opposed to learning movements. You can start push hands training after learning the basics but it`s recommended to practice at least one form prior to or concurrently with the push hands class. Alternatively, start by achieving some fluency with a form first before beginning Push Hands.

For those looking to learn the martial aspects of tai chi, push hands is an essential course on the martial arts path within tai chi. And, for those looking to master tai chi, push hands is a necessary practice to achieving a complete understanding of tai chi principles.

Weapons

Incorporating weapons into tai chi practice takes our training to a different dimension. It is difficult enough trying to control our own body to achieve the tai chi principles. Adding an inanimate object extends our physical awareness beyond the length of our arms. People learn to incorporate the movements of the weapons as an extension of our own bodies.

Weapons have a tendency to exaggerate and expose flaws in our posture, balance and other tai chi principles. So it is an excellent means to enhancing tai chi skills while conditioning the physical body and sharpening our mental focus.

Learning one of the tai chi open hand forms for a minimum of 2 years is a pre-requisite for any of the 4 types of weapons classes: spear, sword, broad sword and long pole. In order to extend tai chi principles to a weapon, it is necessary to be fluent with basic tai chi concepts for the physical body first. Without understanding how to access the dantian or how to maintain the physically sturdy bow stances, it becomes impossible to translate tai chi concepts of movement to the weapon being wielded during class.

Without the open hand forms experience, the movements used with the weapon in our hands becomes clumsy and dangerous to others in the class as well as to ourselves. Learning a weapon is both mentally and physically challenging. The physical challenge is obvious as the extra weight of the weapon adds a level of physical work not found in the open hand forms.

A couple of years of open hand form conditioning will ease the transition to the weapons classes. Even the mental focus that is required can be exhausting. Each person has to be vigilant and pay constant attention or the weapon will hurt us or someone else.

Once people are ready, they find that learning a weapon is a lot of fun. The child in us comes out to play all while we learn to master tai chi skills.

Weapons have a tendency to exaggerate and expose flaws in posture, balance and other tai chi principles. Weapons classes are an excellent means to enhancing tai chi skills, conditioning the physical body and sharpening mental focus. All of this while having a lot of fun learning to master tai chi.

The Tai Chi Learning Path

The rich philosophical roots of tai chi bring a wealth of knowledge and principles that can make learning tai chi a life long journey. Each person’s journey is different depending on what we each want to learn of tai chi.

Each person`s learning path is unique to them. After a couple of years of taking steps to master the basics followed by some open hand forms training, people keep it lively and interesting by mixing, matching and even re-learning with deeper perspectives and appreciation.

When you first investigate tai chi as well as what to learn and how to learn, you may wonder how to get the most out of your tai chi class and feel like you’ve learned skills that are meaningful to you. Even when you might not remember every move in the right order for a while, tai chi will give you many skills that help with your physical fitness, postural and movement goals.

After having taught tai chi for 14 years, I have been enhancing our classes and how we teach tai chi in order to help people gain a more in-depth understanding at every level and facet of the learning experience. Whether you are starting with a high level of fitness or you are working at getting fit, you will gain improved understanding of posture and positioning which will protect your body from over extending, remain more solidly grounded even while moving and using postures which do not over stress your weight bearing joints such as hips, knees and ankles.

If you do feel these joints are stressed even after learning how to align your posture, you may have a variety of tight muscles and / or adhered connective tissues which is preventing you from accomplishing your full range of motion in a pain-free way. Tai Chi can help stretch and strengthen muscles through slow repeated motions while encouraging your joints to move more easily.

Why People Want to Learn Tai Chi

Everyone has their own personal goal or reasons for learning tai chi. Based on what I have learned from my students over the years, here are some of their goals for wanting to learn tai chi.

To stay healthy by being active

To recover from injuries, illnesses or recent surgeries

To reduce stress or tension in their lives

To prevent deterioration of existing health conditions

To improve their health and to strengthen the body

To learn a softer kind of martial art

To learn a skill that can complement another sport or martial art

To excel in martial arts

To satisfy their curiosity about this sometimes mysterious art

Regardless of which goal encourages you to learn tai chi, we all have to start from the beginning with the basics. If you haven’t practiced tai chi previously, we’ll help you start by understanding the basic movement and postural concepts which you’ll continue to practice and master throughout the course of your tai chi journey no matter which style of tai chi you take after the introductory course.

Several core basic movements are introduced within the Tai Chi Basics class. However, a true understanding of how these movements help you remain grounded and balanced as well as their mastery typically requires that you challenge yourself through a variety of forms and weapons classes. In these classes, you’ll be applying and maintaining these techniques while adding a level of challenge to movements.

Learning Tai Chi Basics

A lot of people may feel that they need to choose one tai chi style over the other but this is hard to do if you have never tried tai chi before so we like to start people with a tai chi basics course. You can learn basic moves which are common to most of the tai chi styles. Even the vocabulary translates across styles so once you start learning tai chi, you can easily start with one style and translate your skills over to another style if you have the basics.

Learning the basics include learning what it means to have a good posture, how to move without causing injury, what is true relaxation, how does tai chi achieve mind/body awareness, how to harness internal strength, etc. These are important concepts for a student to understand, even if you are not able to physically execute the moves correctly at the beginning, you need to know why and what you are trying to achieve.

In our Basics class, which everyone takes when they first join our tai chi studio, we teach the core routines which also help warm up the body. These routines help people re-acquaint their access to the body’s core or dantian before working on practice routines for your posture, balance and movement. At the end of our 3 month Basics program, people can expect to know what each movement looks like visually and be able to mirror them in a basic way.

Tai Chi Forms and Push Hands Classes

After learning basics, you’ll want to make a choice of taking your new found skills into an area where you can use them to continue your health and fitness journey with tai chi. There are a couple of ways to accomplish this.

Typically, people will learn a Form which is a series of movements choreographed to apply and hone the skills learned during the Tai Chi Basics classes. Typically, to learn a whole form takes 2 to 3 seasons so that students both have the time to build new muscle memory by executing movements in new combinations which will challenge their ability to maintain balance and posture while getting their brains to create new movement pathways in a fun and fulfilling way.

One of the forms that we teach is Chen Style Tai Chi which is the original and the oldest of all the tai chi styles. It is a little more demanding because it was designed for the old time warriors of the day. These warriors depend on their tai chi martial arts skills for survival and as a livelihood.

The other form we teach is Yang Style Tai Chi which is today, the most popular tai chi form practiced. It is gentler and has a more graceful appearance to all its movements. But, don’t be fooled, it is still a challenging form in its own way.

Push Hands is an interactive use of open hand skills. Push Hands is typically considered a more advanced course than the Forms courses because it challenges our ability to use movements and stances learned in the forms classes. In Push Hands, we challenge ourselves to remain balanced when approached by another person who is attempting to unbalance or throw us off our feet.

People begin to have a deeper understanding energy flow of the movement or posture and the deeper connection of how it gives us balance and strength when they start one of the Advanced classes.

In the next blog, we will discuss these Advanced courses along with where the Weapons courses help people gain an advanced understanding of their skills.

In September of 2017, our school organized a trip to Jamaica, staying at the Grand Palladium all-inclusive resort. Students, friends and family from the two schools in Mississauga and Richmond Hill participated.

This is the first time we have organized such an event and we were pleasantly surprised by the turnout. The spots filled up quickly and overflowed as people brought their friends and family along for the retreat and vacation. The primary goal for everyone was to take time off and enjoy a well-deserved vacation. The secondary goal was to share our love of tai chi and qi gong with friends and family outside of the normal classroom environment.

With everyone in a vacation mode, we were able to fully enjoy the practice of tai chi and qi gong among like-minded people. Here I’d like to share with you some of the activities that we had done as a group.

Qi Gong by the Beach

One of the very first activities we planned is to practice Qi Gong by the beach. The best time was before sunrise so we all got up and started our Qi Gong practice at 6:00 am in the morning. I must say it took a lot of commitment from everyone to get up so early while on vacation. The initial idea was to go for a dip in the water after Qi Gong, but most of us opted for breakfast J.

Walking to the beach in Jamaica before 6 amQi Gong Vitality lead by JennySix healing sounds Qi Gong lead by May

Tai Chi by the Pool

To practice tai chi with such a big group, we had to find a bigger and more leveled space. We also wanted the non-early risers to join in, so we found an area beside the pool just after sunset for our tai chi practice. It turned out quite well as other guests from the resort also joined in.

Standing poseTai Chi basicsYang Style Tai Chi step

Tai Chi and Qi Gong on the Balcony

By the 4th day at the resort, we finished exploring the whole place and found a beautiful space on the Balcony that overlooks the ocean.

The fresh morning ocean breeze and quiet serenity on the Balcony made it a perfect place and we continued our daily practice here for the remainder of the week.

Found the perfect space on the Balcony

Qi Gong Vitality

Almost every morning, the early birds woke up before 6:00am to join Jenny for Qi Gong Vitality practice. The session starts when it is still dark and finishes with a beautiful sunrise. The gentle sounds of the ocean waves and the faint touch of the morning rays made each day a perfect start.

Before sunriseAfter sunrise

Six Healing Sounds Qi Gong (Liu Zi Jue六字訣)

Immediately after the Qi Gong Vitality session, we continue our practice with Six Healing Sounds Qi Gong. This Qi Gong set use breathing and sounds as the main component with simple guiding movements accompanying the breathing routines to regulate the functions of the liver, heart, spleen, lung and kidney and triple warmer. Here we are on the balcony, breathing in fresh morning ocean air, accompanied by our own vocals of the six healing sounds amidst the peace and quiet, it was mesmerizing.

Five Animals Qi Gong (Wu Qin Xi 五禽戲)

Following the Six Healing Sounds, we continue to practice another Qi Gong set. We have not had the opportunity to practice the Five Animals Qi Gong set during our regular qi gong classes, so I thought this would be a good time to introduce the set to everyone. There are a total of 10 moves associated with the Five Animals, 2 moves for each animal. Since this is a new set for everyone, we learned and added moves for one animal each day.

The Five Animals system was developed over 2000 years ago by a famous Chinese physician named “Hua Tuo”. It is based on traditional Chinese theories of the functions of internal organs and meridians, combined with the principles of Qi and blood circulation in our body. The exercises combine both external physical movements with internal mental focus to achieve good health.

Tiger

Tiger raising pawTiger seizing prey

Deer

Deer CollidingDeer running

Bear

Bear rotating waistBear swaying

Monkey

Monkey lifting pawsMonkey plucking fruit

Bird

Bird stretchingBird flying

Tai Chi Chuan (taijiquan 太極拳)

We finish the session for the day with tai chi practice. Each day we would pick a different tai chi topic to discuss or practice. The topics covered include: Tai Chi Basics, Yang Style Tai Chi, Chen Style Tai Chi, Tai Chi Push Hands and Tai Chi Fitness.

As we get close to the end of the session, the sun starts to really heat things up and we are definitely feeling it. Now’s a good time to adjourn to the pool for a cool morning dip or succumb to the delicious breakfast waiting.

Looking forward to the next retreat

This was one of the most enjoyable vacations that I’ve had in a very long time. I think it was the company that made it memorable and endearing. Even midway through the week, many of us were already thinking we have to do this again. Just writing this blog and looking through the pictures have brought back fond memories. I do look forward to our next retreat, perhaps 2019.

For some people, one look at the schedule and they are instantly drawn to the Tai Chi Sword class. They find it both exciting and exhilarating even to think about wielding a sword with some degree of competency. If you feel this way, you can get some background information throughout this blog to make your experience in class that much more enriching.

For many others, seeing Tai Chi Sword on the class schedule will pique their curiosity and make them wonder if it’s for them. It may also seem intimidating to some people. If you feel this way, you may be wondering if you are ready or if you will enjoy yourself or if you will be coordinated enough to accomplish all the movements. This blog will help you figure out if Tai Chi sword is right for you.

What’s Fascinating about Tai Chi Sword

Of the four main tai chi weapons: long pole, spear, sabre and sword, the sword is the lightest weapon. The sword requires only one hand to wield and people are often entranced by the graceful, intricate and fluid movements.

This explains why the sword is the most popular weapon to learn amongst tai chi students. Now, even though the sword may have the most appeal and seem easiest to learn, in reality, it is the most difficult of all the weapons to master.

The sword form is beautiful to look at, and just like any performance, the movements require dexterity, balance and precision to be flawless while appearing effortless to the observer.

Fundamental Tai Chi Sword Techniques

The Tai Chi Sword is a double edged straight sword with a long history in Chinese martial arts with a variety of additional characteristics. Regardless of the additional characteristics and names for the different types of swords, all double edged straight swords perform 4 specific actions.

Point – this applies to movements where power travels to the tip of the blade hitting the target at the blade tip. Point techniques typically feel like a flick or a whip.

Thrust – this applies to movements where the arm is flexed and extended making a straight line from arm to sword handle to sword tip. Power extends from the arm onto the entire sword blade. The tip of the blade connects with the target first and the rest of the blade follows through at the same connection point. Thrust techniques have motions that are led by the sword tip.

Cut – this applies to movements where the sword hits the target along the edge of the blade with power focused about mid-length of the sword where the blade meets the target. Cut techniques have motions that are led by the sword edge.

Slice – this applies to movements where the sword connects to the target along the edge of the blade at one point and travels to another point on the edge. That means power is exerted on the sword edge and slides along the blade following the changing contact point. Slice techniques typically have a circular and fluid feel to it.

Learning each type of movement and the focus of each is important to knowing how to focus the body’s power or jing. Body movements and focus will be different in each action. Knowing which action is being executed will change the mental and physical focus of body movements used to accomplish each. Numerous challenges in posture and balance will occur due to the addition of a weapon in the hand but more than physical movements, a lot more mental focus is required to focus the body and sword to act in a precise and controlled manner.

Tai Chi Sword Proprioception and Mastery

Unlike the other weapons, not only do we need to move the sword into position in a striking motion at the target but the sword needs to flow through the air following a very specific path throughout the entire motion. The 4 main types of sword techniques each require movements that travel in very different paths. The practitioner must know the technique, understand the path and be able to guide the sword along the exact path with the utmost precision.

While it is easier to use a sword because it is lighter, it also means that people must take extra care even when walking with the sword in hand. One needs to be vigilant and intentional when carrying a sword or you may cut yourself or worse, someone else around you.

To be able to practice the sword with precision requires your full attention. Your mind is on full alert, constantly observing and following the prescribed path for the sword. When you practice this way through the entire sword form, you find yourself exhausted mentally more so than physically.

Using the sword is like a dance with your sword. In the beginning, you are just following the steps and completing the action in a technical way, often getting in the way of the sword and moving awkwardly. With a great deal of practice, mental focus and precision of motion, the sword slowly becomes a mere extension of the martial artist.

You will begin to sense the entire sword as an extension of your own body from the blade through to the tip. You will no longer think of how to move the sword to where you want it to go, but you will think of where you want to go. You and your sword become one.

Tai Chi Sword to Enhance Balance and Posture

Long before we achieve this level of mastery, working with the sword will challenge all the basic concepts of tai chi balance and posture. Whenever we add a weapon to our practice, we are adding a weight with some length that challenges our sense of balance. If we are not paying attention, our posture will tilt. We constantly need an increased awareness and focus on both posture and balance while practicing the sword form.

Students are ready to learn Tai Chi Sword when they have enough experience to know how to maintain the 5 bows in their posture in any variety of empty hand tai chi forms. The 5 bows posture ensure the strength and flexibility within the body to move without losing balance or being knocked over by either the added weight of the weapon or by contact with external elements.

Maintaining the proper 5 bows posture for strength throughout the key joints of the body is difficult even in empty hand forms. Adding the sword and having to guide it through a specific path creates new challenges. Advancement of this skill takes a lot of practice with both the sword and empty hand forms. And, it takes even more time to fully master.

Finally, we challenge our ability to use the energy of the body with intention to create movement. This intention starts at our dantien which is at our body’s core. In an empty hand form, this energy moves from dantien to shoulder to elbow and finally hand. With the sword, the energy now has to be transferred from dantien to shoulder to elbow to the hand and finally into the sword.

To achieve this principle, you need absolute control of the sword both mentally and physically. Using a simple movement of sweeping the sword from left to right, you have to hold the sword steady while waiting for your dantien or core to shift to the right. Next, your body turns and then your arm starts to pull the sword to the right. All the while, you hold the sword steady until your core has shifted before the elbow begins to lead followed by the hand directing the motion. Finally, the energy is directed through the sword to finish the path and intention of the movement.

This unfettered direction of energy is where the swordsman gains the power to wield the weapon both effectively and powerfully. Very often we can judge the skill level of a swordsman by how steady the sword is held throughout the entire range of each movement.

Tai Chi Sword for Fun and Fitness

One of the main reason we practice tai chi together is for fun and fitness.

In modern society, we do not practice the sword for self defense or survival. So most of us will never achieve the level of master swordsman, but this should not stop us from learning the sword or the joy of learning it.

There are two basic requirements that I ask of my students who want to learn tai chi sword. Firstly, know the tai chi basics and have practiced an empty hand form for at least 6 months to a year. Your readiness depends on how diligently you have been practicing the details of your form throughout the months and years. Secondly, bring your full attention to class so you know exactly where your sword is at all times for your own and other people’s safety.

Learning tai chi sword is hard work but the rewards are worthwhile. There are no words to explain the exhilaration and joy of moving and being one with your sword until you’ve tried it for yourself. People just have fun when it comes to Tai Chi Sword!

Tai chi is a mind body practice ideal for keeping us active both physically as well as intellectually so let’s discuss how dementia doesn’t need to be inevitable in our lives.

It’s easy to be fearful of dementia as without exception, we’re all aging. Both elderly parents as well as the children anticipating the care taking needs of their parents have concerns. Of course, the best way is to understand dementia and ways to prevent or manage forms of dementia.

To understand, dementia is a term which describes symptoms related to loss of mental ability typically associated with aging. The concern is the symptoms are severe enough to interfere with a person’s activities of daily life. They may include memory loss and difficulties with thinking, problem-solving or language as well as changes in mood or behaviours.

Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia accounting for 60 – 80% of dementia cases. The second most common is vascular dementia which occurs after a stroke has happened. Other causes and types of dementia include Lewy Body disease, head trauma, frontotemporal dementia, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Parkinson’s disease, and Huntington’s disease

Risk Factors for Dementia / Alzheimer’s

They say that over a third of all dementia is preventable. And, a Livingston’s commission has identified the following 9 factors as risks based on their research:

Less childhood education (8%)

Hearing loss (9%)

Hypertension

Obesity

Smoking (5%)

Diabetes

Depression

Physical inactivity

Social isolation

And here are two potential risk factors:

Pollution

Visual loss

Even though the top three factors are listed with a percentage of people impacted by this factor, it turns out that health which is bundled as the factors of smoking, obesity, diabetes, physical inactivity and hypertension (or high blood pressure) has the largest overall impact on dementia.

In addition, the Alzheimer’s Society lists these 10 early warning signs. They say that one in three cases of dementia can be avoided. Then, by following the same philosophies to aging gracefully, the other two of three cases can manage or slow the progression. We can do a lot to help ourselves.

Prevention and Management of Dementia

When looking at this long list of risk factors, we can divide out the factors into 3 main areas:

The first aspect is mental health. Education builds brain resiliency so indicators such as less childhood education may determine an occupation which may either be helping you be resilient or not providing the social and mental stimulation to enhance the health of your brain. In fact, there are certain jobs that help us stay mentally healthy and strong while other jobs that do little to nothing to stimulate us. Complex social interaction helps us activate and utilize the multitudes of connections throughout our brain. On the other hand, labourers, cashiers and machine operator positions offers the lowest protection from an aging and underutilized brain which leaves people more vulnerable to dementia.

The second aspect is our physical health. We’ve all heard about reducing smoking, improving eating and exercise habits to reduce obesity, diabetes, hypertension and much more. A regular routine of effective physical activity is the key.

The third and final aspect is social interaction. It is important for people to be involved with other people to bolster our mood and reduce depression. In fact, one of the reasons why hearing loss and vision loss are factors towards increased dementia is that these disabilities tend to keep people from socializing with others fully, especially if it occurs later in life.

The bottom line is that physical activity and exercise helps give our mind and bodies much of the stimulation we need to keep them both healthy for a lifetime. When we move, our brains need to keep up with coordination, balance and proprioceptive activities.

Now, let’s see how tai chi takes it even a step further.

How Tai Chi Prevents and Manages Dementia

Tai chi has physical benefits that are greater than what you might think. Whether you’ve done nothing for years or you’ve had a regular exercise program, tai chi is gentle on your health and extremely effective at providing cardiovascular as well as strengthening and postural benefits. Tai chi is effective at improving our overall physical health.

In addition, it’s a social activity done in a group setting or class format. When the physical movements are done together in the presence of other people, it connects us to the other people at a visceral level. Here at our studio, during the training programs, we have people break out in groups of two or three to help with each other in ways we can’t do for ourselves. It encourages people to interact, socialize and mentor each other in productive and meaningful ways. Over time, people start to know each other and connect with other people on a whole other level while significantly enhancing their learning experience.

Finally, it’s mentally challenging. People learn to move in ways that maximizes their balance and optimizes their posture. While the movements are typically within reach of most people, it’s the combination of movements, transitions and positional details that challenge the mind to think differently about how your body needs to move. There are also other mental challenges such as memorizing and creating new muscle memories to remember how to complete a routine with over 80 moves called a tai chi form.

The Research Tells Us that Tai Chi Works

The good news is that we don’t have to be fearful of dementia. Neuroscience research in recent years shows that our brain cells grow throughout our entire life. Replacing dying neural connections with new neural pathways through learning, movement and social activities allows us to continually build these new neural pathways. This process within our brains to continually reshape itself is called neuroplasticity.

Harvard Professor Alvero Pascual-Leone’s landmark study shows that learning new activities increases brain activity in the areas being challenged. Due to Tai Chi’s mental challenges of learning new movements plus routines, it is found to improve cognitive function which is something that may start to decline in people as early as age 50.

Some of the first research was done in a 40 week study by the researchers from both the University of Florida and the Fudan University in Shanghai. The research was published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease. It involved 250 participants in their 60’s and 70’s practicing tai chi 3x a week for 30 minutes at a time. The trial found that tai chi practice increased brain volume most significantly. A second group that experienced intellectual stimulation through social interaction showed brain improvement on fewer neuropsychological indices than tai chi. The participants who just walked or the participants were not provided with any form of additional activities showed no difference in their brain volume.

Tai Chi is Fun and Bolsters Cognitive Function

At the end of the day, even as we age, we can all say that we want to enjoy life. A wonderful and long life still needs to be stimulating and challenging to be enjoyable for us. As these and other studies show, it is social interaction, intellectual stimulation, motor skills development and physical health that we need to age gracefully. As a practice, tai chi helps people whether elderly or not to challenge themselves on all these fronts while achieving peace and less stress.